Women in Blue

May 16, 2016
Featuring black-and-white photographs throughout, this addition to the Women of Action series traces the history of women in law enforcement. Moving chronologically from the 19th century to the present, Mullenbach assembles 16 biographies of women, including Frances Glessner Lee (1878–1962), whose interest in miniatures, science, and crime investigation led her to create dioramas of murder scenes that helped detectives hone their skills; and Isabella Goodwin (1865–1943), who spent 30 years with the New York City Police Department. In a more contemporary profile, Mullenbach draws from email interviews with Italian-born Cristina Pino, who pursued a career in forensics in the U.S. (and currently works in Torrance, Calif.). It’s an enlightening examination of a little-explored subject, offering both a historical resource and current insights into the profession. Ages 12–up.

March 1, 2016

Gr 8 Up-This latest edition to the series celebrates 16 women who achieved some of the "firsts" in law enforcement, from Sadie Likens, Denver's first "jail matron," to Ethel and Marlo McGuire, the FBI's first mother-daughter duo. Mullenbach offers frank and honest stories of the personal sacrifices made by these women as they achieved their professional goals. None of these individuals are familiar household names, but they were all well respected by their supervisors and colleagues, and some are still active in their respective jurisdictions. Through personal quotes and interviews, the subjects share their most notorious cases. The book is arranged in six parts (such as "Breaking into Jail: The Early Matrons" and "'Copettes' No Longer: Policewomen"), and each one includes a short introduction to the topic and stories about the individual women. Informative sidebars discuss other female law enforcement pioneers but break the pages awkwardly, making it difficult for readers to follow the main entry. The author acknowledges that some material may not be appropriate for younger students and recommends adult guidance. Substantial notes, a bibliography, and additional resources will aid in future research. VERDICT Recommended for libraries that own other books in the series or where there is a demand for materials highlighting the accomplishments of women in professions that were previously open only to men.-Anne Jung-Mathews, Plymouth State University, NH

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2016
Grades 7-10 From being called copettes, police in petticoats, city mothers, or police matrons (basically everything but police officer), to battling sexism and harassment, to forging new career paths, the history of women in blue is presented in 16 profiles of incredibly inspirational women. Here readers will meet women like Isabella Goodwin, who worked undercover years before women could legally vote, and Moira Smith, a police officer who died on 9/11. The vignettes of each woman are relayed with respect and, when possible, in the subject's own words. Profiles are divided up into sections based on career, so not only are police officers covered but so too are police chiefs, federal agents, and police scientists. Photographs are scattered throughout and include women performing jobs such as solving cases through modern forensics. Inset boxes offer further details about the field or historical background to set the stage. End material includes additional resources for career exploration, notes, and a bibliography. Young women considering careers in law enforcement will be empowered by the women profiled here.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)